Kennedy Middle School coach arrested, charged in crimes against children case
Kennedy Middle School volunteer football coach Shy’Mere Simms, 22, was arrested and charged in a crimes against children investigation on Wednesday, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police and court records.
Simms was charged with one count of indecent liberties with a student. He was arrested Wednesday by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, a CMPD press release said.
On Monday, patrol officers responded to a reported sexual assault. The victim’s mother reported that her 13-year-old son was sexually assaulted on Aug. 1, according to a police affidavit filed in court.
Simms previously worked at the student’s school, Alexander Graham Middle School, where he was a behavioral technician. Simms was terminated in June for unknown reasons.
The victim received a snapchat around 7:30 a.m. saying “I’m in your hood,” according to the affidavit. The victim found Simms at the intersection of Oak Drive and Springhaven Drive. After “dabbing up” the victim, Simms held onto the 13-year-old’s hand, forcing it down the older man’s pants and onto his genital area, the police affidavit alleges.
The victim pulled away and ran home, immediately telling his mother. She drove to where the incident occurred and saw Simms sitting in the driver’s seat of his car, according to the affidavit. The defendant made eye contact with the mother, who turned her car around to locate Simms again. When she started to, the vehicle was gone.
Ring camera footage from a residence on Springhaven Drive shows the defendant’s car outside the house at 7:21 a.m. Detectives also found a screenshot on the victim’s phone asking ChatGPT for advice on how to tell his mother he was sexually assaulted by Simms, the affidavit said.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools sent an email to parents informing them of the incident.
“We take this matter very seriously,” the CMS email said. Simms “has been removed from his duties, suspended with pay, and will no longer be working at any school in the district effective immediately pending the results of the investigation.”
Simms could not immediately be reached for comment.
Simms served as a behavior modification technician “floater” at Alexander Graham Middle School, James Martin Middle School, J.M. Alexander Middle School, Walter G. Byers School, Southwest Middle and West Charlotte High School.
The investigation into the case is ongoing.
